Seven engineers who quit jobs for new-age farming and now earn in lakhs

In recent years, an increasing number of engineers in India have been giving up jobs for farms. With strong academic backgrounds, problem-solving skills, and exposure to technology, these professionals are carving out a new path in agriculture, emphasising innovation, profitability, and sustainability.

From exotic fruit orchards to moringa and mushrooms, many engineer-turned-farmers choose niche farming over conventional crops like wheat and rice. 

Unlike traditional farming, which faces fluctuating commodity prices, niche farming targets premium markets, including exports, and brings high returns. 

For instance, oyster and button mushrooms fetch high prices in urban centres, while demand for organically grown exotic fruits like dragon fruit, avocado, or kiwifruit is rising rapidly among health-conscious consumers. Similarly, moringa, being the new global superfood, is finding customers across the world.

The profitability of these ventures is often tied to value addition. 

Instead of selling produce in bulk in mandis, they package, brand, and market their products directly to customers through e-commerce platforms and retail stores. They also sell directly to exporters, cutting out all middlemen. 

This direct-to-consumer approach cuts out middlemen, ensures better margins, and creates a strong identity for their farms.

Beyond profits, sustainability is becoming the new mantra for these agripreneurs. Practices such as vermicomposting reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers, while organic cultivation enhances soil health. This is leading to a rapid rise in demand for vermicompost, making it a lucrative agribusiness opportunity. 

Here are seven success stories of engineer-farmers inspiring others to reconsider agriculture as a viable career option. 

1. Tapan Kumar Dalie, Odisha

Tapan Kumar Dalie quit L&T Finance in 2020 and began farming paddy straw mushrooms in Jajpur, Odisha in a 500 sq ft bamboo shed. 

His annual turnover has increased from Rs 20,000 to Rs 70 lakh in five years. Tapan sells the mushrooms at Rs300 per kg and is also a master trainer. “The profit margin in paddy straw mushroom farming is 50 percent, making it a good option for entrepreneurs with limited space,” he says.

Read his story here: This engineer quit L&T for mushroom farming; clocks Rs70 lakh annual turnover

2. Chethan Shetty, Karnataka

Chethan Shetty was heading South India sales for Clear Edge Filtration when he quit in 2017 to become a full-time farmer. Today, he cultivates rambutan, mangosteen, avocado and other fruits on his farm at Bellare near Mangaluru, Karnataka.  

Each rambutan tree on his organic farm yields 25-30 kg of output per year, with the wholesale price being around Rs 300 per kg. This amounts to annual revenue of around Rs8000 per tree, though he earns more through home deliveries at Rs350 per kg. He retails mangosteen at Rs400 to Rs500 per kg. 

Here’s his story: This engineer quit his job to grow exotic fruits; sells rambutan and mangosteen at Rs350 per kg

3. Sagar Khare, Maharashtra

Sagar quit his job with American MNC Adient in 2019 and began organic moringa farming in Solapur. He learned about the rising demand for drumsticks and moringa leaf powder in India and overseas. He met moringa farmers in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh and understood it was a profitable crop.

While moringa leaves are used to make powder, drumsticks have culinary uses. Sagar makes an annual profit of Rs30 lakh from a Rs36 lakh turnover. It translates into a per-acre profit of Rs 6 lakh

Here’s his story: Engineer quits MNC for moringa farming; makes a profit of Rs6 lakh per acre

4. Varkey George, Tamil Nadu

After pursuing his post-graduation in electrical engineering at the University of Texas and working in the US for six years, Varkey George returned to India and took up farming.

He earns Rs 4.25 lakh per acre by farming passion fruit and sells avocados and Meyer lemons at over Rs 330 per kg. Varkey has also built the Life Exotics brand to sell various fruits, sourced from other farmers throughout the year. 

“All of us cultivate exotic fruits like rambutan, litchi, mangosteen, etc. Our collective products are branded as ‘Life Exotics’ and supplied to supermarkets or wholesalers directly. This diversification ensures a steady supply throughout the year as the seasons vary. We skip the middlemen,” he says.

The produce is primarily sold in Kochi, followed by Mumbai and Delhi.

The story in detail: Engineer quits US job to cultivate exotic fruits in TN, earns four times more revenue than traditional fruits

5. Biju Narayanan, Kerala

Biju Narayanan, a mechanical engineer, worked in the corporate sector for ten years before calling it quits. With his engineering knowledge, he follows multi-level and high-density farming for exotic fruits like durian and longan in Kannur. 

He retails rambutan at Rs300 per kg and mangosteen at Rs400 per kg, besides providing farming consultation, agritourism, and nursery services.

In his immensely profitable farm, he earns Rs 15 lakh per acre by following high-density cultivation.

Typically, in high-density plantations, rambutan yield is 3500 kg per acre after five years and can go up to 7000 kg to 8,000 kg after seven years. At a base price of Rs 250 per kg, he earned Rs 15 lakh per acre (Rs 45 lakh from 3 acres) through rambutan farming. He has also planted around 40 coconut trees between rambutan per acre, increasing income.

Read his story here: Kerala farmer harvests 6000 kg rambutan per acre with high-density farming

6. Arun Shinde, Maharashtra

Arun was working in a software company in Hyderabad when a global poultry expo was held on the IT park campus. It was the weekend, and he thought of checking it out. That’s when he discovered the Australorp, a large, glossy black chicken breed from Australia that can lay up to 280 eggs a year. Desi chickens lay barely 70 eggs annually.

He brought this idea home and quit his job. He has built a sustainable mixed poultry model using the profitable Australorp hens with ducks and turkeys, clocking Rs25 lakh a year. He has also revived shut-down poultry farms and supports local farmers with resources, buyback and free training.

Here’s Arun Shinde’s story: IT engineer quits job to take up poultry farming; clocks Rs25 lakh turnover 

7. Pramod Saharan, Haryana 

An M Tech in Transportation (civil engineering), Pramod began pursuing his childhood hobby of gardening when the COVID-19 lockdown hit. As he required good vermicompost for his garden, he began researching it online.

After successful trials, he quit his job and began making vermicompost on five beds at his Kaimri village in Hisar in 2021. Today, he clocks annual revenues of Rs30 lakh and a profit of Rs22 lakh from just an acre. He also trains farmers in vermicomposting.

Here’s his story: Engineer quits job to make vermicompost; earns Rs30 lakh from just one acre

(US Anu is a Madurai-based writer. She specialises in stories around human interest, environment and art and culture.)